The Lost Coast Trip
The Lost Coast is a wonderful hike through some of the most pristine coastal wilderness in California. Many people of various skill levels can enjoy this trip. However, the difference between a challenging backpacking trip that helps us grow and a miserable experience where individuals regret the trip and end up being fearful of the out-of-doors is being honest, realistic and prepared in advance for this beautiful, but strenuous adventure.
Cost: $110 Per Person Due Wed April 19th. We are paying for shuttles to transport us to the trailhead, so after April 19th the shuttle portion of the expense will only be refunded if we get someone else to fill your spot.
Warning
This trip is no joke, it is usually done by adults with good physical stamina and endurance. While I have previously taken youth on this trip who were capable and enjoyed it immensely, the adventure is absolutely not to be taken lightly. Unlike many hikes, there is a time component - we need to beat the incoming tides on certain sections. While a reasonable pace will allow us to make it with a large margin of safety, there is pressure to keep moving. Frankly, the ranger voiced some concern about youth under 11 doing this trip, telling me they should be of strong physical and psychological condition to enjoy it and beat the tides. While thousands of hikers, including youth, successfully complete the trail every year, there was a fatality last year - an unprepared hiker was not able to beat the tides and was washed out to sea. Therefore, for the sake of safety, we need to be absolutely honest about what every participant is capable of. Some parents underestimate what their kids are capable of, others overestimate - please take some additional time to figure out which one you are and whether this hike is right for you and your family. There are some useful videos below that might help.
Please Remember: We are going to do this hike again in a couple of years. Please read the information below and do some serious soul searching. Is your youth ready for this? If you are not absolutely sure, you can always wait until next time. We are also doing other backpacking trips this summer, so there are other opportunities to backpack with shorter trips to build appropriate confidence and have fun - insuring backpacking becomes something to enjoy over an entire lifetime.
A Prepared Hiker Can:
-Backpack 6+ miles, day after day.
-Keep pace and take breaks no more than once every 2-3 miles.
-Tolerate physical rigor and push themselves at times.
-Wake up at 5 am to hike.
-Be ok with days of 'roughing it', meaning pooping in the woods, setting up and taking down tents, cooking and eating backpacking food, no showers, etc.
What You Need to Know:
This is a Strenuous Backpacking Trip!
28 Miles total, with multiple consecutive days of 4-8 miles per day.
Full packs = all food, all gear + bear cannisters means we will be carrying significant weight.
Moderate speed requirements to beat the tides on certain sections of trail means no dilly-dallying.
Sections of both soft sandy ground and rocky terrain means tired legs.
Early morning starts means you and your youth will need to get up at 5am and be ready to go.
This is a One Way Backpack: We park at the end and shuttles transport us to the trailhead. Once the vans drop us off, there is no option to go back after a few miles if you change your mind.
This is not a hike to do if you have never backpacked before or backpack only with trepidation and difficulty.
This is not a trip for those who are not prepared to carry their own pack the entire 28 miles.
This is not a backing trip for those who need a leisurely pace.
This is not a backpacking trip for those with bad ankles, uncomfortable with sand or hiking over rocks and boulders mile after mile.
The Lost Coast is a wonderful hike through some of the most pristine coastal wilderness in California. Many people of various skill levels can enjoy this trip. However, the difference between a challenging backpacking trip that helps us grow and a miserable experience where individuals regret the trip and end up being fearful of the out-of-doors is being honest, realistic and prepared in advance for this beautiful, but strenuous adventure.
Cost: $110 Per Person Due Wed April 19th. We are paying for shuttles to transport us to the trailhead, so after April 19th the shuttle portion of the expense will only be refunded if we get someone else to fill your spot.
Warning
This trip is no joke, it is usually done by adults with good physical stamina and endurance. While I have previously taken youth on this trip who were capable and enjoyed it immensely, the adventure is absolutely not to be taken lightly. Unlike many hikes, there is a time component - we need to beat the incoming tides on certain sections. While a reasonable pace will allow us to make it with a large margin of safety, there is pressure to keep moving. Frankly, the ranger voiced some concern about youth under 11 doing this trip, telling me they should be of strong physical and psychological condition to enjoy it and beat the tides. While thousands of hikers, including youth, successfully complete the trail every year, there was a fatality last year - an unprepared hiker was not able to beat the tides and was washed out to sea. Therefore, for the sake of safety, we need to be absolutely honest about what every participant is capable of. Some parents underestimate what their kids are capable of, others overestimate - please take some additional time to figure out which one you are and whether this hike is right for you and your family. There are some useful videos below that might help.
Please Remember: We are going to do this hike again in a couple of years. Please read the information below and do some serious soul searching. Is your youth ready for this? If you are not absolutely sure, you can always wait until next time. We are also doing other backpacking trips this summer, so there are other opportunities to backpack with shorter trips to build appropriate confidence and have fun - insuring backpacking becomes something to enjoy over an entire lifetime.
A Prepared Hiker Can:
-Backpack 6+ miles, day after day.
-Keep pace and take breaks no more than once every 2-3 miles.
-Tolerate physical rigor and push themselves at times.
-Wake up at 5 am to hike.
-Be ok with days of 'roughing it', meaning pooping in the woods, setting up and taking down tents, cooking and eating backpacking food, no showers, etc.
What You Need to Know:
This is a Strenuous Backpacking Trip!
28 Miles total, with multiple consecutive days of 4-8 miles per day.
Full packs = all food, all gear + bear cannisters means we will be carrying significant weight.
Moderate speed requirements to beat the tides on certain sections of trail means no dilly-dallying.
Sections of both soft sandy ground and rocky terrain means tired legs.
Early morning starts means you and your youth will need to get up at 5am and be ready to go.
This is a One Way Backpack: We park at the end and shuttles transport us to the trailhead. Once the vans drop us off, there is no option to go back after a few miles if you change your mind.
This is not a hike to do if you have never backpacked before or backpack only with trepidation and difficulty.
This is not a trip for those who are not prepared to carry their own pack the entire 28 miles.
This is not a backing trip for those who need a leisurely pace.
This is not a backpacking trip for those with bad ankles, uncomfortable with sand or hiking over rocks and boulders mile after mile.
View the Lost Coast Trail
Training Hikes:
A good rule of thumb for training for a backpacking trip to do anywhere from 1/2 to the full milage of the trip in the months leading up to the trip, simulating the actual conditions of the adventure.
Everyone going on Lost Coast should hike 14-28 Miles in the months leading up to the trip.
- To do the Lost Coast, 12 of the training miles must include an overnight experience and with full packs.
- The rest of the training miles can be day hikes. We have done some of these - if you have not participated, please make sure you do hike those miles!
To insure everyone's enjoyment the Redbud Judge Davis backpack trip is required for all participants (unless you have serious backpacking experience and talk to me).
All backpackers must carry their full packs during the entire 12 mile hike.
Individuals should try on their packs and practice walking a few miles with weighted packs prior to the redbud Judge Davis backpacking trip. Start light and then work your way up to full weight. Walk with the packs downtown to get donuts, walk the arboretum trail, etc.
Backpackers need to be able to do the hike without significant assistance, physically or psychologically. If someone needs tons of encouragement, frequent breaks, or physical assistance, they really should wait for future years to do this hike.
Lets make sure everyone is prepared to have a challenging but enjoyable experience!
Questions about gear? Click Here!
A good rule of thumb for training for a backpacking trip to do anywhere from 1/2 to the full milage of the trip in the months leading up to the trip, simulating the actual conditions of the adventure.
Everyone going on Lost Coast should hike 14-28 Miles in the months leading up to the trip.
- To do the Lost Coast, 12 of the training miles must include an overnight experience and with full packs.
- The rest of the training miles can be day hikes. We have done some of these - if you have not participated, please make sure you do hike those miles!
To insure everyone's enjoyment the Redbud Judge Davis backpack trip is required for all participants (unless you have serious backpacking experience and talk to me).
All backpackers must carry their full packs during the entire 12 mile hike.
Individuals should try on their packs and practice walking a few miles with weighted packs prior to the redbud Judge Davis backpacking trip. Start light and then work your way up to full weight. Walk with the packs downtown to get donuts, walk the arboretum trail, etc.
Backpackers need to be able to do the hike without significant assistance, physically or psychologically. If someone needs tons of encouragement, frequent breaks, or physical assistance, they really should wait for future years to do this hike.
Lets make sure everyone is prepared to have a challenging but enjoyable experience!
Questions about gear? Click Here!